The couple in custody for the murder of Indian Air Force corporal Vipan Shukla (inset) in Bathinda on Tuesday. Photo: Pawan sharma

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 21

The chopped body of Indian Air Force (IAF) corporal Vipan Shukla, who had gone missing on February 8, was found today in the staff quarters at the Bhisiana air force station.The police arrested IAF sergeant Shailesh Kumar and his wife Anuradha, who is eight months’ pregnant, for the murder. A co-accused, Shailesh’s brother-in-law Shashi Bhushan, is absconding. A preliminary investigation revealed that Shukla had illicit relations with Anuradha. On getting pregnant last year, she allegedly asked him to marry her as she was prepared to divorce her husband. However, he rebuffed her and told her to get an abortion done.Sources said Anuradha and her husband later hatched a conspiracy to murder Shukla. Her brother, who works in the Merchant Navy, became their accomplice.Police sources stated that around 10.30 pm on February 8, when Shukla was taking a walk, Anuradha sought his help to pack her luggage. He entered her house, where Shailesh and his brother-in-law hit him fatally on the head with an axe and hid the body in a trunk.On February 19, they chopped the body into pieces and packed it in 16 packets. They then kept the parts in the refrigerator and a cupboard in their new quarters, the sources added.The police said Kumkum Shukla, the victim’s wife, had registered a complainant at Balluana police post on February 9 about her disappearance.A police team, along with IAF officials and a dog squad, searched the quarters and recovered the body parts.

Tribune News Service

Hamirpur/Bilaspur, December 25

Ex-servicemen of Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts are happy with the implementation of “one rank, one pension” (OROP), but want the issue of parity in status with IAS and IPS officers sorted out.However, shrinking job opportunities for ex-servicemen after they are discharged from the service or voluntary retirement is a major issue and as the number of ex-servicemen seeking jobs is much higher than the jobs available.“No doubt, though ex-servicemen have been benefitted financially after the implementation of OROP but the key issue of parity in status with IAS and IPS officers remains to be sorted out,” said Brig BD Dogra.Julfi Ram of Lehri village in Bilaspur, who retired as a Sepoy, said he had received two instalments under “one rank, one pension” in March and August 2016 and was benefited to the tune of Rs 1.13 lakh.Kaur Singh of Domahar village in Ghumarwin, who took retirement as a Subedar, said though the instalments had been received, the revised pension benefits from January 2006 had not been given. “The basic pension was raised to Rs 10,400 after 2006, but I am getting basic pension amounting to Rs 8,425 and in case this anomaly is not rectified, we will have to approach the court”, said Rajender Prasad, who retired as a Havildar in 1996.Two widows of Domahar village, Vyasa Devi wife of Nardev Singh and Parvati Devi wife of Budhi Singh, said they had not received the enhanced pension after the implementation of OROP. “We have not even been told how much pension will be disbursed under OROP,” they said.The ex-servicemen, based in their villages, were not in touch with developments taking place with regard to the implementation of OROP and other issues concerning them. They said a quarterly newsletter should be published and circulated among ex-servicemen to keep them abreast with the latest developments.“While in service we were told that there were so many jobs for ex-servicemen, but the ground reality is different. There are fewer jobs for ex-servicemen and even the Sainik Welfare Boards are not able to do much and we are facing problems in bringing up our children and meeting other liabilities after leaving the Army,” said another ex-serviceman Dyal Singh of Hamirpur.Ranjit Singh, who retired as a Havildar and takes care of the Sainik Welfare Board at Ghumarwin, said there would be difference as the arrears would be decided as per the length of the service but at least the Modi government had fulfilled the promises made to ex-servicemen.

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has reiterated its advice to local youth against running towards the site of gun-battle and issued prohibitory restrictions of up to three kilometers around an encounter site in the three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian.

The advisory came amidst a political war of words on the army chief ’s recent statement that such people will be dealt with harshly.

“District administrations of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian advised people not to move towards or assemble near the places where encounters take place between security forces and militants to avoid loss and injuries to precious human lives,” the advisory, released on Thursday evening, said.

It added, “However the restrictions shall not apply to the movement of ambulances, medical, paramedical staff and Government employees.”

The government advisory comes after a year since it first issued such a notice in Pulwama district, following the increasing cases of locals rushing towards the site of a gun-battle to allegedly distract security forces and help the militants in escaping.

Speaking to HT, J&K director general of police, SP Vaid said, “We can advise and if someone still wants to jump into the fire, then what can we do?”

HT had reported exactly a year ago about this trend and experts had observed in the story that “common people openly putting their lives at stake to save militants” was an emerging reality in Kashmir.

Army chief Bipin Rawat has recently commented that those who hinder counter-insurgency operations or display flags of Pakistan and the Islamic State in Kashmir will be considered as “anti-national” and would “face action”.

Asked about why people are continuing with this trend despite knowing the dangers, Vaid said: “Vinasha kale viparith buddhi (When one’s doom approaches, then one’s mind, one’s intelligence works perversely),” he said.

Reacting to Rawat’s statement, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “The issue of internal security of the country is a serious one and there can be no compromise on it. But as I had said during the last Parliament session, atrocities should not be inflicted on innocents. Action should be taken against those involved in wrong doings but there is need to adopt restraint.”

Encounter sites in J&K tohave3km no­go zones

Officials say move is to stop civilians from risking lives

The Jammu and Kashmir government has reiterated its advice to local youth against running towards the site of gunbattle and issued prohibitory restrictions of up to three kilometers around an encounter site in the three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian.

WASEEM ANDRABI/HTKashmiri protesters throw stones at police and paramilitary soldiers during a demonstration after the Friday prayers in Srinagar.

The advisory came amidst a political war of words on the army chief’s recent statement that such people will be dealt with harshly.

“District administrations of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian advised people not to move towards or assemble near the places where encounters take place between security forces and militants to avoid loss and injuries to precious human lives,” the advisory, released on Thursday evening, said.

It added, “However the restrictions shall not apply to the movement of ambulances, medical, paramedical staff and Government employees.”

The government advisory comes after a year since it first issued such a notice in Pulwama district, following the increasing cases of locals rushing towards the site of a gun-battle to allegedly distract security forces and help the militants in escaping.

Speaking to HT, J&K director general of police, SP Vaid said, “We can advise and if someone still wants to jump into the fire, then what can we do?”

HT had reported exactly a year ago about this trend and experts had observed in the story that “common people openly putting their lives at stake to save militants” was an emerging reality in Kashmir.

Army chief Bipin Rawat has recently commented that those who hinder counter-insurgency operations or display flags of Pakistan and the Islamic State in Kashmir will be considered as “anti-national” and would “face action”.

Asked about why people are continuing with this trend despite knowing the dangers, Vaid said: “Vinasha kale viparith buddhi (When one’s doom approaches, then one’s mind, one’s intelligence works perversely),” he said.

Reacting to Rawat’s statement, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “The issue of internal security of the country is a serious one and there can be no compromise on it. But as I had said during the last Parliament session, atrocities should not be inflicted on innocents. Action should be taken against those involved in wrong doings but there is need to adopt restraint.”

“Congress is falling to this temptation of politicising the army chief’s statement… This party can go to any extent for political benefits. It is speaking the voice of separatists for lowly political gains,” Union minister Jitendra Singh retorted.

The Global Times article says New Delhi should accept tht olive branch extended by Pakistan

Beijing, December 23

After a top Pakistan general surprisingly invited India to join the USD 51 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, state-owned Chinese media has advised New Delhi to accept Islamabad’s offer, pitching that such an opportunity could be of benefit to all involved.“New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said an article in the Global Times, adding that there is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the CPEC would quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if India did not respond in a timely manner.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

It said that since India’s primary strategy was to promote economic and social development in the Kashmir region, the best way to reduce hostilities was by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what could not be reached by a consensus.It claimed that China had no intention of using the CPEC as strategic leverage to intervene in Pakistan and India’s dispute and that it would rather adopt an open attitude towards New Delhi joining the CPEC.It said that as India is ramping up efforts to integrate itself into global manufacturing chains, the country could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the CPEC. ANI

Since Sunday five soldiers, one officer, eight militants and two civilians have been killed in gunfights in the Kashmir valley. Statistics reveal that the conflict is becoming more local and lethal. The new phenomenon has been in the making over the past two years – belligerent crowds would gather and stone the security forces with an aim to disrupt the counter-insurgency operations and enable the militants to escape.  At times, the militants were protected by the human wall of people of all age groups. This trend picked up pace especially after the killing of militant Burhan Wani in July last year. Burhan’s death became a turning point. The fearlessness with which the mobs attacked the security forces’ camps and convoys has shaped the young generation’s audacity. New information suggests more locals are joining the militants’ ranks.  The security forces are caught in a catch-22 situation for they cannot abandon their operation against militants nor can they fire live ammunition on stone-throwers. Obviously, this new mood of the people has not been factored in by the security forces and the government. The rush-and-raid strategy of the past is no longer relevant. Militants making videos of their preparations to face security forces is something unique. The circulation of such videos on social media as also that of large crowds attending the funeral processions of slain militants works up the intense passions of the young.  They are swelling the militants’ ranks. The counter-terrorism strategy has not moved with this changing pace of reality. The original infiltration-guide-militant and the overground-worker nexus is getting supplemented by fast-growing local militancy. The Jammu and Kashmir Government is looking towards New Delhi to initiate dialogue to infuse hope and defuse militancy as also violent protests.  New Delhi is relying on the old approach of getting everything done and achieved through a hammer approach and leaving things to subside on their own. That strategy appears to be backfiring.  An entire population of civilians is getting sucked into the militant’s corner. The portents of a wider conflict are becoming ominously clear.

IT was 1998 and I was commanding my regiment, 63 Cavalry, at Patiala. I was travelling by Shatabdi to Ambala after a brief visit to Delhi. My fellow passenger was a simple man whom I did not know and recognise. He was trying to read a Hindi newspaper and was immersed in his thoughts. He didn’t seem to be well  and looked decidedly uncomfortable. On my request, the train examiner made an announcement for a doctor, but surprisingly, except for an odd neem hakim, no one came forward. At Karnal, I insisted that the old man was given proper medical attention at the next station, Ambala Cantt. The railway staff reluctantly agreed to arrange for a doctor, who examined and treated  him at the next stop.As I took leave of him, he thanked me and invited me to visit Rock Garden, which we did in the form of a regimental picnic. We had the ultimate pleasure of being shown around by the creator and hear his story. My regiment had its share of station responsibilities, which entailed beautification and aesthetics, but there was no financial support. We decided to tap Nek Chand, who most graciously agreed to train a couple of our soldiers in the basics of his art. He visited the regiment to conduct a training workshop. He was thrilled to take a tank ride and got himself photographed in the cupola. After his visit, a number of Nek Chand statues sprang up in Patiala and our Station Commander termed it ‘Nek Chandisation’. For want of a better term, they were referred to it as Nek Chands — like my regiment would say that we have installed a dozen Nek Chands at the Golf Course. The children took a liking for him and called him ‘Rock Star’.My association with the grand old man proliferated his art to places where I served, including Nagaland, Sikkim, Hisar, Babina and Bhopal. Every time we sent a team, he got them skilled, creating a pool of trainers, all ‘gratis’ due to his love for the armed forces. As he aged, his involvement reduced, but he always visited the trainees at least once. Whenever we de-briefed our boys, they were full of praise and sense of involvement of the great artist, who genuinely believed in skilling others. He was also a practical teacher, who innovated new utility-oriented figurines, like traffic cops, to substitute and economise on manpower. His forte remained recycling of discarded waste material, maintenance-free creations at a low cost.Last year, before he passed away, we installed some Nek Chand statues at Shivalik Golf Course in Chandimandir. His figures stand as a testimony to his contribution to functional aesthetics in military stations. To a great friend and real Rock Star, who would have turned 92, here is a ‘General salute’, richly deserved for his contribution to society and special love for the forces.

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 14

Family members of a missing IAF jawan today met Bathinda SSP and demanded a probe into the matter.They said jawan Vipin Shukla had been missing for the past six days but despite lodging complaints, nothing had been done by the Air Force and police.The family members said Sukhla was selected as airman and was now deployed at the canteen of the Air Force at Bhisiana.The missing airman was living with his wife and children in a government quarter at Bhisiana, they added.SSP Swapan Sharma said a police officer had been deputed to look into the matter.

Sergeant’s wife gets bail in suicide case

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

A local court today granted regular bail to the wife of a 27-year-old Sergeant of the Indian Air Force in an abetment of suicide case. She was granted bail on the bail bond of Rs 25,000.Her counsel contended that her husband made her nominee for taking all benefits, thus, they had no bitter relation. And why was the FIR lodged after 24 days of the incident by her in-laws. It was further argued that the in-laws had also moved a Maharashtra court, demanding his financial benefits to be given to them. Thus, false allegations were leveled against her for claiming the same amount.Savita Swapnil Ghagare (24) was arrested on February 2, almost seven months after her husband Swapnil Babaso Ghagare, a resident of Maharashtra, committed suicide by hanging himself at his house in Sector 47. The Chandigarh police arrested his wife for abetment of suicide.The victim, Swapan, posted at the 3 BRD Air Force Station had committed suicide in June, 2016. Police officials said the victim had an altercation with his wife before he committed suicide.The victim’s mother had complained to the police that Sawpan’s wife Savita forced him to take the extreme step.After investigating the matter, the Chandigarh police arrested the deceased’s wife and registered a case under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Sector 31 police station.

Pakistans National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz speaks during a news conference at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on December 4, 2016, after attending the 6th Heart of Asia (HoA) Ministerial Conference in Amritsar in India. AFP photo

Islamabad, December 5

India’s efforts to “spoil” Pak-Afghan ties will not succeed, Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said as he downplayed the Afghan President’s criticism of Pakistan’s support to terrorism, saying it was meant to “please” India.“Ashraf Ghani’s (Afghan President) statement is regrettable. It shows anxiety in Kabul and is understandable due to deteriorating law and order situation,” Aziz said, adding that Ghani’s “statements were meant to please India”.He said India’s efforts to divide Afghanistan and Pakistan would not go far as “we are next-door neighbours”.“Indian efforts will not succeed to spoil Pakistan ties with Afghanistan, as our ties are religious and cultural. That is why we want that terrorism should end in Afghanistan,” he said on returning home after attending the Heart of Asia meeting in Amritsar.“But our ties with Afghanistan are independent and we need to cooperate on several issues,” Aziz said.He claimed that India was trying to use Afghanistan for its own advantage “but it will not succeed”.Aziz also accused India of not treating the Pakistani media properly at the Heart of Asia meeting and said he was not allowed to have a press conference.“The attitude towards media was not good. I wanted to have press interaction with our own media. But we were not allowed,” he alleged.Afghan President Ghani had accused Pakistan of launching an “undeclared war” against his country by covertly supporting terror networks, including the Taliban, and asked it to use its USD 500 million aid to check extremism on its soil.He had also demanded an Asian or international regime to verify Pakistan-sponsored terror operations.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Aziz said Pakistan had reassured Ghani that its territory would not be used against Kabul.“I reassured Ghani that we will not allow out territory to be used against Afghanistan. But also emphasised better border management,” said Aziz.Aziz said the Afghan leader had a different idea about the USD 500-million assistance pledged by Pakistan and proposed a trilateral commission with China to utilise the amount for welfare of Afghanistan. PTI

Tej Bahadur Yadav

New Delhi, February 10

The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to allow the wife of the BSF jawan, who went public through the social media alleging poor quality food being served to soldiers, to meet and stay with him for two days at the base where he was posted at present.The direction by a Division Bench of Justices GS Sistani and Vinod Goel came after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain informed the court that BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav is not under any illegal confinement and he has been shifted to another battalion, 88th Bn HQRS at Kalibari, Samba, in Jammu.Taking note of the submission, the Bench said if the wife had an apprehension that her husband was under threat, she and their son be allowed to meet the soldier.It also said, “We should not get into logistics of any kind, the wife must be allowed to meet him and let us burst the bubble.”The Bench directed the ASG, who was representing the Centre and BSF, to make all possible arrangements for the wife to meet her husband and there should be no difficulties while she visits the place. The direction came after the jawan’s wife, Sharmila Devi, moved the court by way of a habeas corpus plea, alleging her husband is untraceable.  — PTI

New Delhi, December 18

Opposition parties on Sunday questioned the central government’s decision to appoint Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat by superseding two senior officers.

The development came a day after the government appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new army chief superseding his two senior officers.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari demanded to know why two senior officers — Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Southern Army Command chief Lt Gen PM Hariz — were superseded.

“With all due respect to Gen Rawat’s professionalism and no personal animus towards anybody, there is a legitimate question that why has that supersession taken place,” he said, calling the central government’s defence that the grand old party had made similar decisions in the 80s and that latest decision was not unprecedented “complete nonsense”.

“Every situation has its own context and, therefore nothing can be extrapolated out of context in order to justify a supersession. So, therefore the government needs to answer this legitimate question as to why these senior army commanders were superseded,” he said.

“Did the government have anything against them? Was their professionalism in question? What was the reason and I guess the army being a public institution the country deserves those answers,” Tewari said.

CPI leader D Raja also questioned the government’s move.

“Appointments in the army have become controversial, the appointments in the judiciary are already controversial, the appointments of CVCs, CBI director and to Central Information Commission, all these top-level appointments are becoming very controversial,” he said.

Also read:

Bipin Rawat to be Army Chief, Dhanoa to head IAF

Govt names new IB, RAW chiefs

Calling the development “very unfortunate”, Raja said it was not in the interest of democracy and the country.The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said although such appointments were the central government’s prerogative, the ruling dispensation cannot brush aside considerations such seniority, competence and integrity.

NCP leader Majeed Memon said: “The Army Chief’s appointment is a prerogative of the government, but you cannot just brush aside all considerations like seniority, competence, integrity and the degree, services and performances that are expected from a man who is incumbent.”

“The Army chief, RAW chief, CBI chief, these are all vitally important positions where we expect the service to the nation and Indian society must be up to the mark, otherwise we suffer either externally or internally.”

‘Politics’

The BJP has criticised the Congress for questioning its decision and “politicising” the issue.

BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said it was “extremely unfortunate” that the Congress “looks to politicise everything”.

“Therefore, the Congress spokesperson (Manish Tewari) should resist about it because the chief of the Army has been appointed and this is not the first time that the supersession have been done,” Singh said.

“There are other cases in the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy…also the same thing has happened. So, let’s not politicise each and everything and particularly when it comes to the Indian armed forces. It’s very sad that the Congress is trying to politicise this appointment,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources have stated that Lt. General. Bipin Rawat, who has been appointed as the next Chief of Army Staff, was found best suited among current batch of candidates of Lt. Generals, to deal with emerging challenges, including a reorganised and restructured military force in the north, continuing terrorism and proxy war from the west, and the situation in the North-East.

Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Indian Army’s Eastern Command at Kolkata, and the senior most General to succeed Dalbir Singh, was superseded in the appointment.

And Air Marshal Dhanoa was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in June 1978. He has served in various squadrons, and in the Intelligence Directorate of Air Headquarters. — Agencies

Appointment of army chief should not be politicised, echoes defence community – ANI news

http://Lt General Bipin Rawat Named New Army Chief

http://Congress questions Bipin Rawat’s appointment as Army Chief